Take My Hand
Illyana joined Kitty and stood by her side with her arms crossed as they watched Rogue come down the cliffside by herself. Kitty’s joy wavered as she saw that she was alone and not with Logan or Gambit. Rogue approached the two girls with her signature charming smile. Kitty ran down the steps and engulfed her in a hug.
“Kitty Pryde! I haven’t seen you in a month of Sundays,” Rogue expressed as Kitty released her. She placed a hand on her shoulder, “How you been, sweet pea? Besides all the other funny business.”
“I’m okay. You look great,” Kitty complimented.
“Well, butter my backside and call me a biscuit, thank you, sugah,” Rogue smiled.
“I’m just glad you guys are here to help,” Kitty said with a friendly smile, “Speaking of which, where are Logan and Gambit?”
Rogue placed a hand on her hip and looked back at the cliff, “Logan was worn slap out an’ took a real long nap on the jet. Gambit was fixin’ to wake him up, but when he did, Logan got all annoyed an’ is up there yellin’ at him.”
“Are they coming down here?” Kitty asked.
Rogue shook her head, “You too should pack your things. We’re goin’ straight to Madripoor. Logan an’ Gambit’ll explain the plan on the jet.”
Kitty nodded and went inside, grabbing both her and Illyana’s things which consisted exclusively of a bundle of clothes and Kitty’s laptop. Lockheed flew over Kitty’s head as she left the house and joined Rogue and Illyana just outside the house.
Rogue led the two girls back to the jet and told them about the rescue at the Raft. Or at least what she’d gotten out of Gambit. She helped them into the jet where Logan had Gambit in a headlock. After seeing the girls, he released Gambit and then braced for impact as Kitty launched herself into his arms.
“Good to see you too, Cat,” He greeted.
“I missed you,” Kitty spoke, her voice shaking.
“Missed you too, kid,” He set her down and placed both his hands on her shoulders as he held her gaze, “Now we got a job to do.”
Kitty nodded and then waved at Gambit. He winked at her, “Welcome back, minou,” He then draped an arm over Rogue’s shoulder as she went to stand next to him.
“So who’s explainin’ it all?” Rogue asked Logan.
“I’ll give it a go,” Logan said as the group formed a circle, “The key here is stealth. What we’re gonna do is have Illyana go in there and make sure Kurt’s room is empty. If it is, she’ll just go in and teleport him back. If not, have Gambit go in there and remove anybody. Kitty, you and I will try to get Barnes, Wilson, and the other one out of the building and get them to stop tryin’ to hunt us down. Rogue’ll be our backup and getaway pilot.”
“What if something doesn’t go according to plan?” Illyana asked.
“Nothin’ ever does which is why we have Rogue at the ready if we need her,” Logan replied.
“You got nothin’ else for me to do, Logan?” Rogue asked with a grin.
“I’m sure something’ll happen,” Logan guessed with a sigh.
“Allons then,” Gambit announced as Rogue and him turned around and headed for the cockpit.
Kitty sat down in a seat by Logan and Illyana sat near her. Lockheed settled in Kitty’s lap as usual.
“Buckle up, folks!” Rogue shouted, “We’re headed to Madripoor!”
^^^
Kurt looked out the window in his hospital room. He’d finally gotten back to walking after the incident. His side still hurt and ached from time to time, but it wasn’t as bad as before. He looked out the window for the first time and bathed in the sunlight with a faint smile playing on his lips.
“I got what you wanted from the cafeteria,” Torres announced as he walked into the room with two trays and cracked the door with his foot.
Kurt went to sit back on the bed as Torres handed him a tray, “Vielen Dank, Torres.”
“No problem,” Torres smiled at him and took a seat in one of the chairs by the window, “Good to see that you can walk again.”
Kurt picked up the Jell-O bowl on his tray and peeled it off, “My zide still hurts every now und zen, but I feel much better.”
“That’s great,” Torres said and then bit into a carrot. He finished chewing before adding, “Bucky texted me. He said he should be back today.”
“Wunderbar,” Kurt spoke and then scooped some Jell-O with a spoon to eat.
The two ate in silence for a minute before the door opened and Bucky came in followed by Val.
Val looked Kurt up and down before acknowledging, “You really are blue.”
Kurt knitted his brow, “I- yeah I sure hope so. Who are you?”
“Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Director of the CIA. Call me Val. Actually don’t,” Val introduced herself. Bucky looked less than happy to be around her. She continued, “It’s nice to finally meet you, Mr. Wagner.”
Val held out her hand to shake. Kurt gave her a polite smile and then shook her hand. Her gaze lingered on his hand for a little longer than it should have, making him uncomfortable.
She let go of his hand, “Well, Mr. Wagner, I have a few questions for you.”
“I don’t mean to be rude or anything, but we are eating. Can this maybe wait?” Torres asked awkwardly and pointed to his and Kurt’s trays. He saw Kurt’s discomfort.
“Thank you for your concern, Torres, but these questions won’t take long,” Val said with a forced smile. She didn’t like him talking back.
Bucky stood by the door with his arms crossed, practically staring down Val with what Kurt could only describe as a death glare.
“Go ahead and ask, Frau Direktorin,” Kurt wanted to get this over with but he didn’t want to be rude.
“See, he doesn’t mind,” Val gestured to Kurt who just nodded awkwardly. Val went to ask her first question, “How are you feeling, Mr. Wagner?”
“Fine, I zuppose,” Kurt answered. He then locked eyes with Bucky, “But I zink I may need a little more time here to make sure everyzing is fine.”
Val nodded, looking like she was calculating something. She then questioned, “And what about your friends? Heard from either of them in a while?”
“Nein,” Kurt lied, “Logan is in prison so I have no vay of speaking vith him. Und Kitty is on ze run.”
Val looked at him like she had caught him in a lie. Which she might have, “Actually, your friend, Logan as you call him, broke out of prison with some help. We were wondering if you could identify his saviors?”
Val pulled out her phone and showed him a blurry picture that was split in half. He recognized the silhouette of Gambit in the smoke of the top half of the picture and then looked at the bottom picture. Kurt picked out the back of Rogue’s brown jacket as she was hitting someone in what looked like a dock.
“I do not know eizer of zem,” Kurt lied once more.
“That’s too bad,” Val shook her head with a tsk-tsk as she put her phone back in her coat. Val then stood up and headed for the door, “Well, that’s all I have for you, Mr. Wagner.”
Kurt gave her another smile, a wave of relief washing over him as she walked out. Val returned moments later like she forgot something, “Oh, and one more thing. Wilson has decided it’s time to move you to a better hospital in the States. Bye bye now.”
^^^
Illyana came out of the jet’s bathroom after putting on the uncomfortable SHIELD uniform that Rogue let her borrow. Now she needed help putting on the annoying armor that came with it. Usually she didn’t mind armor- that was a part of her usual costume, but this armor was clunky and weighty. She couldn’t have told you what the purpose of this god awful armor was.
Kitty spotted her and grinned, “Need a little help?”
Illyana rolled her eyes, “A lot.”
Kitty came over to her right as the jet cloaked itself and landed on top of a Madripoor building near the hospital that was holding Kurt. She picked up the first piece of armor and helped fasten it to Illyana’s shoulder. As she repeated the gesture with other pieces until the chest plate was fastened, she told Illyana the floor Kurt’s room would be on and what the room number was.
“Do you have the helmet somewhere?” Kitty asked, looking over her shoulder.
“I think Rogue has it,” Illyana responded, looking at the cockpit.
Rogue emerged from the cockpit and saw them. She instantly knew that they needed the helmet and pulled it out from under one of the seats. She helped Illyana put it on.
“She looks just like one of ‘em, heh Logan?” Gambit said and elbowed Logan.
“Hush your mouth,” Rogue scolded Gambit with a slight smile and then looked at Illyana, “Though I do reckon he’s right.”
“You’ll blend right in,” Logan added.
“I can only imagine how heavy that armor is,” Kitty thought. She then handed Illyana a gym bag that was meant to make her look like she was delivering something.
“It’s ugly,” Illyana replied, “But not too heavy.”
“Are we good to go?” Rogue asked, looking at everyone in the group.
“All I need ta do is put on my SHIELD uniform just in case I’m needed,” Gambit declared, “But other than that, I think our team is good, cher.”
“Go put it on now, sugah. We’ll see Illyana off outside,” Rogue directed and then gestured for everyone to head out.
Logan led the way and everyone except for Gambit went outside, standing on the roof of a building near to the hospital. Rogue walked over to Logan and pulled him away to talk quietly. Kitty and Illyana strolled over to the edge of the roof.
The two girls stood side by side. Illyana looked at Kitty for a moment and then held her hand at her side, silently hoping she’d have the chance to hold her hand. A few seconds passed and she went back to looking at the distant hospital. Then she felt Kitty’s pinky intertwine with hers and, against her better judgment, she smiled.
“Are you okay?” Kitty asked quietly.
“I’m fine, why?” Illyana countered, now looking at her.
“You just seem.. Lost in thought lately. I know it’s been years, but I know you don’t get in your head this often in two days,” Kitty pointed out.
“I’ve been thinking about some things back at the mansion,” Illyana lied and sighed, “Don’t.. Don’t worry about it.”
“You know you can tell me anything, right?” Kitty said with a comforting smile.
“I know,” Illyana nodded and gave her a fake smile.
Kitty could tell something was wrong with her. She realized now wasn’t the time to protest, but something had to be wrong. Kitty looked away for a second and then looked back at her, suddenly having an idea, “Take Lockheed with you.”
Illyana turned to face her, “Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” Kitty said and faced her. Lockheed flew out of the jet and landed on her shoulder. She scratched the underside of his chin. Lockheed then hopped off of her shoulder and turned into a keychain attached to the gym bag. Illyana appreciated the gesture, but she knew it meant that she still had a decision to make. A decision that Lockheed, and by relation, Kitty, would bear witness to.
“Ready to go?” Rogue asked, walking up to them.
Illyana nodded, but Kitty stopped her. She put up the mask that was attached to the SHIELD suit to cover her mouth and nose, “There. Just to make sure no one recognizes you.”
Illyana smiled at the mask. Thanks to that damn mask, Kitty couldn’t see the faint blush spread over her cheeks. She then shook it off and lowered the clear visor of the helmet over her eyes. She stepped to the side and created a portal to an alleyway next to the hospital. She waved at Kitty and then stepped through.
Kitty watched the portal for a few moments longer as it shut and then went back to standing by the edge of the roof and looking out at the hospital. Logan observed as the admiration and affection on Kitty’s face faded. She held her arms, watching the hospital with uncertainty written on her face.
Rogue elbowed Logan and then went back into the jet to see if Gambit was finally ready. Logan grunted and then stood where Illyana once stood.
“She’ll be okay, Cat,” Logan reassured her, “She can handle herself just fine.”
“I know, but,” Kitty sighed, putting it into words, “I’m worried about her.”
“Because you like her or because you think something is off?” Logan posed the question with a smirk and a raised brow.
Kitty looked at him, a bit shocked that he pointed it out so bluntly. But that wasn’t unlike him to do. She composed herself and responded, “Something’s off.”
“How?” Logan questioned.
“She’s been in her head. It’s been like that ever since we left Erik’s,” Kitty pointed out what she had observed.
“Hold on. Erik’s? Doesn’t Magneto live on Genosha?” Logan needed clarification.
“I went to one of the Genoshan pick up houses and he just showed up,” Kitty explained.
“Magneto. Ruler of Genosha. Enemy of the X-men. Just.. showed up to pick you up? You ever considered he had ulterior motives?” Logan asked, watching Kitty carefully.
“I wasn’t exactly expecting him. I was expecting some ambassador or maybe even Lorna, but not him. It’s not something I have control over,” Kitty argued with a shrug.
“And he didn’t ask you to do anything in exchange for his help?” Logan prodded.
“No,” Kitty shook her head, “But Illyana picked me up and brought me to Genosha.”
“Odd,” Logan said and then thought, “They talk before she took you?”
“I heard them talking, but I couldn’t tell what they were saying,” Kitty answered.
Realization dawned on both of their faces.
“You don’t think-” Kitty started.
“I wouldn’t put it above him,” Logan responded.
The two looked at each other and then at the hospital in the distance. Erik had made a deal with Illyana. But as for the contents of that deal, they had no idea.
^^^
“What are we going to do?” Torres asked, pacing around the room, “We can’t just let them take him.”
“We won’t,” Bucky insisted as he stood by the door.
“I need to talk to Sam,” Torres walked over to the door.
Bucky stuck out his arm and blocked him, “He’s not going to listen to you.”
“It’s Sam. He’ll listen to me,” Torres insisted and then turned his head, looking at Kurt as he still sat on the bed, “Kurt, help me out here.”
“I agree vith Bucky,” Kurt agreed.
Torres looked between them with suspicion, “You guys know something.”
Kurt looked inquisitively at Bucky, “Vhat do you know?”
“Frost?” Bucky queried, watching Kurt nod.
“How do you both know this?” Torres asked.
“Bobby,” Bucky said.
“I have dealt vith her in ze past. She is tricky,” Kurt responded.
“So Frost is..” Torres trailed off.
“In his head,” Bucky finished the sentence.
“That’s not good. Is there a way to stop her?” Torres asked. Bucky looked at Kurt for an answer.
“It is possible, aber you must take ze fight to her,” Kurt explained. He then sighed and added, “Kitty vould know more about fighting her zan I.”
Bucky nodded, taking in the information. He glanced out the door and looked into the hall.
“I’m going to see how many agents are around here. Maybe we can figure out a way to sneak Kurt out of here,” Bucky began making a plan.
“Then we can find a way to connect with Kitty and Logan,” Torres added, smiling as they figured out a makeshift plan.
“Zounds good,” Kurt nodded, a glimmer of hope appearing in his eyes.
Bucky bowed his head and then slowly walked into the hallway. He walked down the hall and then stood by the corner, silently counting the agents in the hallway to Kurt’s room.
Before he could turn his head to count the people in the waiting room, he felt someone ram into his shoulder and side as they passed by him. He furrowed his brow and tried to spot who hit him. Emerging from the small crowd of passing doctors was a heavily armored SHIELD agent with a gym bag.
Everything fell into slow motion as he began to note unusual details about this agent. The heavy armor wasn’t unusual, but the mask over the bottom half of her face was. He looked up and noticed her looking back at him with a glare in her cold blue eyes. His eyes then landed on the purple dragon keychain with beady yellow eyes. The push had been deliberate. Perhaps it was some kind of sign?
The girl turned away from him and walked past Kurt’s room, subtly looking inside before continuing down the hall. Bucky made sure she was a good distance away before he ran down the hall to Kurt’s room, ordered the two stay put, and then followed after the agent.
The agent took the stairs down to the ground floor and then walked out of the hospital with Bucky following silently behind. He watched as she rolled up her sleeve, typed something into the orange and gray watch and then muted comms before shoving the watch in the gym bag.
The agent continued down the street until she turned a corner, effectively disappearing from view. Bucky cautiously looked into the alleyway she had entered moments before, seeing that she had disappeared. All he found was the gym bag placed neatly on top of a dumpster with the dragon keychain attached.
Bucky made sure that the agent wasn’t lying in wait to ambush him before he took a few steps towards the dumpster and unzipped the gym bag, silently hoping that this was some kind of clue from Kitty or Logan. All he found were a bunch of rolled up papers and tissues and the watch.
Bucky sighed and zipped the bag back up. He looked over the purple dragon keychain, hoping Lockheed would spawn in and guide him to wherever the mutants were hiding. But he knew things were never that easy. And the blue-eyed girl was not Kitty and definitely not Logan. He remembered her eyes from somewhere. He thought back for a moment. The gala. The girl Kitty was so mesmerized by. He remembered Bobby having mentioned her name but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
“Lost in thought?” He heard a Russian accent from down the alleyway.
Illyana stood in the space between three alleyways several feet ahead of him. She’d discarded the helmet and some of the heavier pieces of armor. She’d untied her hair and had lowered the mask so that her stern expression was showing. She was young, maybe a year or so younger than Kitty, but her demeanor exhibited power.
The name finally came to him, “Illyana, right?”
Illyana tilted her head and evaluated him, her eyes landing on his vibranium arm, her expression twisting into something between anger and restraint. There was a faint hint of conflict in her expression before she suddenly crossed her left hand over her body in an eccentric gesture.
Illyana then manifested the hilt of a sword in her left hand. The blade pieced together from nothing until it was complete. Once the entirety of the blade had been formed, the sword glowed white before erupting into blue flame. The blue light of the blade cast onto her scowl as she glowered at him.
“It’s Magik to you.”